The Lagos State Government on Thursday commenced the demolition of illegal and unsafe structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo Local Government Area, as part of efforts to restore order and enforce physical planning laws.
Confirming the exercise in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, said the operation targeted “illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages.”
According to him, the government could no longer fold its arms while unapproved developments obstruct critical infrastructure and endanger lives.
“The Lagos State Government has begun removal of illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals and defective structures, and structures built on road setback and drainages in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Local Government area,” Gawat wrote.
The operation, which began early Thursday, was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority. Also present were officials from the Office of Infrastructure, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and security agencies who provided backup during the exercise.
Bulldozers were seen pulling down marked structures while some traders and shop owners watched with concern over the impact on their businesses.
The Sanwo-Olu administration has repeatedly warned residents and developers against erecting buildings without proper approvals or blocking drainage channels, stressing that such violations contribute to flooding, traffic congestion, and urban disorder in Lagos.
The removal of the illegal structures at the Trade Fair Complex is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to protect infrastructure and public safety in Nigeria’s most populous city. However, previous demolitions in areas like Oworonshoki have sparked backlash from displaced residents, who alleged insufficient notice and loss of homes and businesses.
PUNCH Online reports that Lagos State had earlier run a government-mandated amnesty programme to allow owners of unapproved or irregular buildings to regularise their structures without penalty. The window, which had been extended multiple times, recently expired, leading to heightened enforcement actions across the state.
